More Americans Are Freelancing

The unemployment rate is low, and the economy is getting stronger. However, more Americans are still choosing to freelance. According to Upwork.com, the number of freelance workers has increased by 3.7 million in the past five years.

Stephanie Krisel is the CEO of Upwork. She stated that technology is making it possible for people to work from home. Forty-two percent of people stated that they freelance because of the flexibility. They also stated that they freelance for personal reasons. For example, they may have health issues that prevent them from going into an office. They may also have trouble getting childcare.

Freelances spent 1 billion hours working in 2015. Sixty-four percent of freelancers work online. Sixty percent of freelancers stated that they freelance by choice. Fifty-two percent of freelancers stated that they would not take a traditional job.

Even though freelancers can work on their own, they still realize that it is important to keep up with their skills. Seventy percent of freelancers who work full-time stated that they had completed some type of training within the past six months. Half of part-time freelancers had completed training within the past six months.

Stephanie stated that freelance workers help shape the workforce. They also play an important role in the American economy. A recent study has shown that workers care more about lifestyle than their earnings. People who freelance have an easier time living the type of life that they want. That is why people who have professional skills will likely continue to freelance.

There was a study taken by MidAmerica Nazarene University that asked women what they wanted in a job. Flexibility was the top thing that people were looking for. They also stated that they wanted to have unlimited vacation time. Additionally, they wanted to earn a nice income.